Message character forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for making records of message characters using a character forming device between a source of light and a record medium, and wherein the forming device lends itself to effecting recordations either while in direct contact with the record medium for making &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;hard copy&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; prints, or, through a lens system onto microfilm. The device makes use of a bundle of optical fibers extending from a light admitting surface to a light emitting surface of the device and wherein the fibers are divided into a number of smaller bundles, representing segments with which characters are formed. To form a particular character predetermined ones of the larger bundles are illuminated on the light admitting side of the device, and their corresponding segments will emit light in the form of the desired character on the opposite side, and from which a record is made.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph T. McNaney 8548 Boulder Drive, LI Mesa, Calif. 92041 [2| I ApphNo. 888,402

[22] Filed Dec. 29, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [54] MESSAGE CHARACTER FORMING APPARATUS 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 95/4.5, 340/378 [51] lnt.Cl B4lb 21/26 [50] Field of Search 95/4.5; 340/378, 380

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,873 5/l96l Anthon 340/378 3,220,013 I 1/1965 Harris 346/107 3,391,970 7/1968 Sincerbox.., 95/4 .5

3,458,655 7/1969 Thourson 3,518,666 6/1970 Heggestad Primary ExaminerJohn M. Horan characters using a character forming device between a source of light and a record medium, and wherein the forming device lends itself to effecting recordations either while in direct contact with the record medium for making hard copy prints, or, through a lens system onto microfilm. The device makes use of a bundle of optical fibers extending from a light admitting surface to a light emitting surface of the device and wherein the fibers are divided into a number of smaller bundles, representing segments with which characters are formed. To form a particular character predetermined ones of the larger bundles are illuminated on the light admitting side of the device, and their corresponding segments will emit light in the form of the desired character on the opposite side, and from which a record is made.

PMENTEE SHEET 1 BF 2 PIC-3.1

My m w w m w w w w w w wmww wo w m w m w w w w m FIG-3 o 00 0 i III O 0 OOO OI. 0000000000000 INVENTOR.

FIG. 2

PATENEED EST 2:91: 3.61 1; 891

SHEEI FE 0F 2 P41 10) 10a) 10b I FIG'7 FIG-6 INVENTOR.

MESSAGE CHARACTER FORMING APPARATUS SZ SGRQ QQEIIIEIIEXENT 9. 1

. 5 The invention hereln pertains to recording apparatus of the 1 type used for printing copy corresponding to coded data available at the output of electronic computers, for example. To a very large extent the cathode-ray tube is satisfying most of the needs in this area as a character generator and display for allowing recordations of printed matter to be made on light sensitive record media, such as microfilm. In most cases the characters generated are composed from an array of dots, or bar segments, which of course provide satisfactorily readable FIG. and FIG. 7 represent two differentviews of a source.

oflight that may be used in the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A system embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG; I includes a character forming unit 10, presenting a first surface 11 and a second surface 12, supported along an optical axis 13 of the system and in relation to a source oflight 14, which may be a LASER light source 14. Intermediatethe light source and the unit 10 a lens system 15 is provided for projecting. light from the source 14 toward the surface 11, followed by first and second light deflectors 16 and 17, which will be used to copy However, in relation to the present invention, cathode, 15 direct a beam of light from the source 14 to selected areas of ray tubes and their associated circuitry is expensive, their light output is rather limited and .the types of record media required is also relatively expensive-for many applications they are called upon to satisfy. The character forming andprinting the surface 11. These deflectors are illustrated as comprising a pair of prismatic beam deflectors for effecting horizontal deflections of the beam and a pair for effectingvertical deflections of the beam, each of the prisms being composed of 'elec' techniques utilized in this invention, therefore,are designed to tro'ophc crystals, for example, Such 35 barium Sodium overcome these shortcomings of CRT methods of character generation and recording.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Includedherein is a character generating means which makes use of segmentally fonned letters, numerals, symbols, etc., but the individual segments are composed of dots of light,

niobate, and presenting an optic axis perpendicular to the axis 13, and also adjoining angular surfaces 18 intersecting the axis 13. On opposing surfaces, the deflectors I6 and 17 are provided with electrodes 20 and2l, and 22 and 23, respectfully,

.. 5 for subjecting them to the influence of an electrical potential from a source of voltage 25. Upon the application of electrical potentials thereto the index of refractionof adjacent prisms will be modified to the extent of effecting the desired horizontal and vertical deflections of the light beam, and conand accomplished with the use of th light ittin nd of sequently, the illumination ofselected areas ofthe surface II.

groups of light guides, such as optical fibers. In doing so, segments of characters can be designed to meet a variety of recording requirements totally independent of any stringent generator illumination requirements. This particular means of Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the character forming unit 10 will be described as containing a bundle of light guides, such as optical fibers, extending from the first surface II to ,the second surface I2 thereof. Light emitting ends 26 of the generating information to be recorded lends itself to either g guides, at the second Surface 12, are fixedly pl contact printing or projection printing of a substantial variety of message bearing symbols, eventhough limited in the sense that segmented character forming techniques usually are. Certain objects of the recording apparatus of this invention are to a predetermined array, such as that exemplified in FIG. 2, and the light admitting ends 27 of the light guides, as shown in FIG. 3, are fixedly supported in a somewhat different array. The emitting ends of the second surface 12 are capable of be able to overcome light intensity and record media requirebeing divided into individual groups, segments, with which ments usually associated with cathode-ray tube systems, for example. Design flexibility inherent in the invention permits the use of a single source of light withdeflector means for effecting the generation of characters, or, an array of individual light sources in combination with a system of individual on-off excitation means for accomplishing the recording needs of a given application. Independent of anylightsource requirement the invention is designed to record an array of significant segments of characters in response to an otherwise much less meaningful array of lights, or lightprojections, used in connection with the recording of information. Also explained herein will be the ability of the apparatus to use record media of the hard copy variety, usually requiring high intensity light, or the more sensitive film when an application calls for BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a-diagram of a system'embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 represent front and rear surface views of a character forming device as used in the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of portions ofa system to be combined with that of FIG. I.

a large number of message bearing characters, such as letters, symbols, etc., can be formed. The light guides of each such group extend through the-support medium 28 to the first surface 11 of the unit 10 where the light admitting ends thereof iterminate within a predetermined number and array of areas that will be illuminated with light from the source 14. As shown in FIG. 3, these areas, such as 30,131, 32, etc., arearranged in five columns and seven rows, and within each -.area there is shown to be one, two or three lightadmitting ends 27. .This five by seven array of areas is, of course, illustrative. Other arrangements may be used, such as a single row of 35 areas. In any event, the illumination of one or more areas will illuminate one or more segments of light emittinghends 26 at the second surface 12.

Upon the illumination of selected combinations of the light admitting areas symbols, letters or numeralscorresponding to such combinations willbe segmentally 'formed and presented at the second surface 12. Each area, or spot, of light will be converted to one, two or three spots of lightrat the character forming surface 12. However, these character forming seg-.

ments may be extended to include more than the number of spots exemplified'herein. Other arrangementsof character forming segments can be utilized topresenta greater variety and array of more distinctive characters in response to the illumination of relatively simplified combinations of light admitting areas at the surface 11 ofsuch a unit 10.

Cross-sectional dimensions of optical-fiber material that may be used as the light guidesin the unit I0 can be obtained as small as 0.00l in diameter, or less, andto'sizes of 0.0M), or greater. Therefore, the array of segments in FIG..2 may not require an area any larger than 0.020 X0020. and it can be made as large as an application requires it.to be. Referring to FIGS, 2 and 3, the rows and columns oftheadmitting ends and FIG. 5 is a diagram of another ystem emb di e t f h i the emitting ends can be related as follows, and an example of vention;

how characters are established is also shown.

Emitting ends Admitting ends Row Column Row Column A B C D E F 7 1 6 To o 00 To 0 0o 4 To 0 0o 3 To 0 00 2 To o oo 1 I0 00 7 3000000 6 2 5 E 4 E0 0 3 E 2 5 1 E 00000 7 4000000 0 Z 5 Z 4 Zoo 3 Z 2 Z 1 00000 7 E 00 6 E0000 5 500 0 4 F0 0 3 Zoo 0 2 E0000 1 20 00 As exemplified above, the letters A, formed on the surface 12 by deflecting a beam of light from the source 14 to those areas 30, 31, etc. necessary to form such characters, and the areas necessary to form a given character will be illuminated sequentially and as rapidly as necessary, or possible. When the beam of light is being deflected in the process of forming a character, predetermined voltages for doing so will be applied to the deflectors 16 and 17 from the source 25, and means, not shown but well known in the art, will of course be used to gate the beam on and off as required.

In the process of recording a line of characters on a record medium the characters will be formed successively and directed in a line across the medium. As shown in FIG. 4, a lens system 33 will project and image characters as they appear on the surface 12, and an electro-optic light beam deflector 34 will be used to position the characters in a line across the record medium 35. Deflectors 34 may be similar to deflectors 16 or 17. However, a line of characters may be recorded on a record medium which is in contact with, and moved in relation to, the surface 12 while the characters are being formed. Or, a number of the units may be supported sideby-side to form a line of individual character forming units adjacent the surface of arecord medium. The deflector 17, in addition to directing a light beam to one column and the next of a given unit 10, it will also be used to direct the beam to each of the units in the line.

In the system embodiment of FIG. 5, a line of character forming units 10, 10a, 10b, through l0fare illustrated as being supported adjacent a record medium 40, which is movable in the direction of arrow 41. In this embodiment the light admitting surface ll of each of the units 10 is illuminated from a light source composed of as many individually controlled sources of light as there are light receiving areas on the surface 11 of each unit 10. One such multiple light source 42 is illustrated in FIG. 6 which indicates that there are 35 areas 43, in a B, C, etc., will be five by seven array, from which light will be obtained. This ar rangement of areas 43 is designed to match the light require ments of the surface 11 in FIG. 3. A section through the light source unit 42 is shown in FIG. 7, and it is shown to include an array of gas cells 45. Each cell contains neon gas, for example, and is viewed through a transparent window 46 when made to glow following the application of a voltage between at least two electrodes 47 and 48. A light source such as this is a development of the Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., and identified as Self-Scan Panel Display. The operation of the panel is set forth in a Burroughs Corp. Bulletin l 161. It will be noted that the operating characteristics of such a panel lends itself quite well to certain illumination requirements of an assembly of units 10 through l0fin FIG. 5 hereof. However, the multiple light source 42 may be comprised of a five by seven array of light-emitting diodes, such as gallium arsenide phosphide diodes. Or the source 42 may include an array of neon or incandescent lamps.

When in operation a multiple light source 50 in FIG. 5, will be energized from a voltage control source 51 to provide lines of printed data on the medium 40 as it is moved in the direction of the arrow 41. When the surfaces 12 of the units 10 are in direct contact with the medium 40 the actual size of the characters being formed will be recorded, however, a reduced size recording may be made on microfilm, for example, by the inclusion of a lens system between the surfaces I2 and the medium 40.

The particular embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is illustrative only, and the invention includes such other modifications and equivalents as may readily appear to those skilled in the arts, and within the scope ofthe appended claims.

lclaim:

I. In a message character forming apparatus a. a source oflight',

b. character-segment establishing means, presenting first and second surfaces, including a plurality of light guides each presenting a light admitting end coincident with said first surface and a light emitting end coincident with said second surface;

. said first surface containing predetermined number and array of light receiving areas, each area having positioned therein one, or more, of the light admitting ends of said light guides;

. said source of light including a plurality of electrically controllable light emitting elements, each element being adjacent to, and limited to the illumination of, a predeter mined one of said light receiving areas;

means for extending the influence of an electrical potential, individually, to said light emitting elements so as to effect the illumination of but one (or a number) of said light receiving areas or a number of said light receiving areas simultaneously;

. said second surface containing a plurality of array of said light emitting ends, each array comprising one, or more, of said light emitting ends of light guides extending to predetermined ones of said light receiving areas for conducting light therefrom to the light emitting ends of each array, said plurality of arrays representative of a plurality of message characters and each array presenting a significant segment of one (a) message character, or a number of different message characters, upon said effecting of the illumination of the light receiving area thereof,

. said array of light receiving areas comprising a predetermined number of columns, and a predetermined number of rows, of areas;

. said source of light comprising a plurality of columns of light emitting elements equal in number to said predetermined numbcr of columns of light receiving areas and a plurality of rows of light emitting elements equal in number to said predetermined number of rows of light receiving areas;

. said plurality of arrays of light emitting ends comprising a plurality of columns of light emitting ends equal in number to said predetermined number of columns of light receiving areas, and a plurality of rows of light emitting ends equal in number to said predetermined number of rows of light receiving areas and I each light receiving area in each of said columns of areas corresponding, respectively, with a light emitting element in each of said columns of elements and with one, or more, light emitting end in each of said columns of ends, and each light receiving area in each of said rows of areas corresponding, respectively, with a light emitting element in each of said rows of elements and with one, or more, light emitting ends in each of said rows of ends.

ing means so as to provide a recordation of said message character presentations. 

1. In a message character forming apparatus a. a source of light; b. character-segment establishing means, presenting first and second surfaces, including a plurality of light guides each presenting a light admitting end coincident with said first surface and a light emitting end coincident with said second surface; c. said first surface containing predetermined number and array of light receiving areas, each area having positioned therein one, or more, of the light admitting ends of said light guides; d. said source of light including a plurality of electrically controllable light emitting elements, each element being adjacent to, and limited to the illumination of, a predetermined one of said light receiving areas; e. means for extending the influence of an electrical potential, individually, to said light emitting elements so as to effect the illumination of but one (or a number) of said light receiving areas or a number of said light receiving areas simultaneously; f. said second surface containing a plurality of array of said light emitting ends, each array comprising one, or more, of said light emitting ends of light guides extending to predetermined ones of said light receiving areas for conducting light therefrom to the light emitting ends of each array, said plurality of arrays representative of a plurality of message characters and each array presenting a significant segment of one (a) message character, or a number of different message characters, upon said effecting of the illumination of the light receiving area thereof; g. said array of light receiving areas comprising a predetermined number of columns, and a predetermined number of rows, of areas; h. said source of light comprising a plurality of columns of light emitting elements equal in number to said predetermined number of columns of light receiving areas, and a plurality of rows of light emitting elements equal in number to said predetermined number of rows of light receiving areas; i. said plurality of arrays of light emitting ends comprising a plurality of columns of light emitting ends equal in number to said predetermined number of columns of light receiving areas, and a plurality of rows of light emitting ends equal in number to said predetermined number of rows of light receiving areas; and j. each light receiving area in each of said columns of areas corresponding, respectively, with a light emitting element in each of said columns of elements and with one, or more, light emitting end in each of said columns of ends, and each light receiving area in each of said rows of areas corresponding, respectively, with a light emitting element in each of said rows of elements and with one, or more, light emitting ends in each of said rows Of ends.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 additionally including k. a plurality of said character-segment establishing means supported side-by-side for presenting a line array of independently formed message character presentations.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 additionally including 